COVID-19: epidemiological update. Weekly report. Week 41. 20 October 2022.

Publié le 21 octobre 2022
Mis à jour le 21 octobre 2022

Key points

In week 41, the incidence rate stabilised at national level and in the majority of metropolitan regions but continued to increase among the elderly.

  • Metropolitan France:
    • Stabilisation of incidence rate at a high level
    • Incidence and positivity rates still rising in 70+ age group
    • Increase in new intensive care admissions
    • Further rise in number of deaths
  • Overseas France:
    • Incidence rate falling or stable at low levels in all territories

Variants

  • Omicron sub-lineages: BA.5 omnipresent, accounting for 93% of sequences in the week 40 Flash Survey (3 October)
  • Among the BA.5 sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 is increasing (16% vs 7% in the week 39 Flash Survey)

Prevention

  • Vaccination on 17 October 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):
    • 74.5% of the population aged 18+ and 82.5% of the 65+ age group had received a first booster dose
    • 31.3% of 60-79 year-olds (representing 37.0% of those who are eligible given the time since their last injection) and 38.3% of people aged 80+ (50.1% of those who are eligible) had received a second booster dose
  • Given the intense circulation of SARS-CoV-2, compliance with the combined measures remains crucial:
    • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2) for individuals already vaccinated with a primary course eligible for a first or second booster;
    • self-isolation in case of a positive test for COVID-19 and/or symptoms; 
    • continued application of precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask, particularly around vulnerable people and in enclosed spaces favourable to transmission (public transport, large gatherings, etc.), frequent hand washing and ventilation of interiors.